There is nothing better than the seven-year warranty, along with roadside assist for the same period, which is transferable to new owners.

Capped price servicing is available for those returning to the dealership for maintenance annually or every 15,000km, with the average price $348 over seven visits. Not as inexpensive as some, but fluids and filters are included.

The SLi also gets night-time turning lights which provide extra illumination when you corner.

DRIVING

Designed as a metro machine, it cuts a swathe through towns and city streets.

Handling prowess shines and cornering can be undertaken with complete confidence.

Live in a hilly area and the Rio's weakness is exposed. You have to maintain the revs for ascents and on occasions flatten the accelerator - sometimes, depending on the gradient, you really have to get the whip out.

Under the skin is a 1.4-litre petrol engine partnered to a four-speed auto... the latter is an ageing unit, and it could do with a couple of extra ratios to squeeze out some more performance.

Not that buyers in this segment are chasing a slingshot, but some will find the Rio lacks punch. Once the shortcomings are recognised you learn to flick the shifter across and change gears manually when tackling steep terrain, and it will hold speed nicely above 3000rpm.

Fuel consumption on test was about seven litres for every 100km - which is about on par with competitors in the genre, maybe slightly thirstier, although it runs on regular unleaded.

The 2017 Kia Rio range (l-r) white S, red SLi and blue Si.Contributed

PRACTICALITY

Larger than the car it replaces, it's best suited to four passengers but it can handle five. The Rio also has a sizable boot able to handle a couple of medium-size suitcases, or a grocery shop, and if you have awkward size gear, there are 60-40 folding rear seat-backs. We accommodated a 180cm surfboard with the rear seats down and slotted between the two front seats.

There are excellent storage nooks up front near USB and 12-volt points, two cup holders in the centre console and bottle holders in each door (only 500ml bottles in the back).

HEAD SAYS

Lacking some urgency, you need to work the four-cylinder engine hard up hills. Once its spinning, the Rio is a weapon around the bends, which generates plenty of driver confidence.

HEART SAYS

European good looks with strong specification, the touch-screen with smartphone compatibility is awesome.

2017 Kia Rio SLi interior.

ALTERNATIVES

TOYOTA YARIS ZR $22,470

It too has an ageing powertrain (1.5-litre/four-speed auto) which can be noisy and inefficient, but it's cheap to run and includes autonomous emergency braking and lane departure alert.